Harkins Exterminating

I used Harkins last year to remove a hornet's nest and they were fine, if a bit pricey (I am admittedly cheap), so when I discovered another nest--this one right over our front door!--I called them again. I left the message over the weekend, so I didn't expect to hear from them right away, but when we didn't hear back on Monday, we went through the online interface and left another message. We did get a message back within 24 hours of the second message, apologizing for the system being down. We called back the following morning (I think this puts us on Wednesday), left a message, got a callback and finally were able to set the appointment for Thursday at noonish. I was a little disappointed because they told me last year that it was important to take these nests out early in the morning before all the critters left for the day; otherwise, they would just rebuild, but I was anxious to get the nest out in any case. When the exterminator hadn't show up by 3pm we called again. He finally rolled in at about 4, blasted the nest, leaving pieces of nest, dead and dying hornets and grubs all over my front walk and yard, and half the hollowed-out nest hanging in the tree. Noting that hornets coming home from a hard day at the hornet office were hanging around, I called the office and left a message stating that if the hornets came back and rebuilt I wasn't paying for a second removal. To date they have not responded to that call. That's what really did it for me. Although I didn't ask for a callback, if it were my business and I got a call like that or heard that my technician left a job in that condition, I'd have set the phone lines on fire calling back. Instead we just got a bill in the mail like usual. To me, that shows a complete lack of commitment to quality or keeping my business, small as it is. I realize that this wasn't a big lucrative termite job or anything, and I understand that different companies specialize in different types of job,but a) we were repeat customers, b) we persisted in trying to hire them even when they were less than responsive, c) this was a hornet's nest right over our front door! If they weren't especially interested in the job, all they had to do was let us know it was outside their current focus so we could get someone else out there. It was strangely difficult setting up the appointment (why was that even needed? They've been here before, it was outside, and they bill, so why not just come by as soon as they were able once we made the request), they were late, the work was sloppy and half-done, and they don't seem to care. I have to conclude that thiis is one of those half-assed small business with no accountability and hit or miss quality. I won't use them again and certainly can't recommend them.

One thing I like about Harkins over others is that you know who you're going to deal with. Dot on the phone and Bob "the Bugman" in person. No nonsense, no surprises. Also, they will not sell you services you don't need. I highly recommend them.

WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE THAT HARKINS PROVIDED US. THEY DID OFFER EXTRA NECESSARY TREATMENTS AT OUR EXPENSE IN THE SUM OF 50.00 PER YEAR.